The uncertainty surrounding two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee should be resolved within the next month.
At an introductory news conference Wednesday for new head coach Taylor Jenkins, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam addressed the issue hanging over the franchise's head this offseason: Trade the 10-time All-Star or try to re-sign him to a new deal?
"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam told reporters. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's (GM Jon Horst) job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."
Antetokounmpo has expressed a desire to remain in Milwaukee, even though he could become a free agent next summer. However, he's stated his preference is to play for a team that's committed to winning a title. That doesn't describe the Bucks last season, who went 32-50 as their star forward battled injuries and frustration with his playing time.
The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million contract extension in October. However, if he doesn't sign, free agency looms at the end of the season.
"We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis – at all – and always knew where he stood," Haslam said. "And I think he always knew where we stood. We've had those kind of conversations since the season was over.
"So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else."
May 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dribs in against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Coming off a heartbreaking Game 1 defeat, the Spurs eyed revenge against the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Carter Bryant returned from his ankle injury, so the Spurs were back at full strength. After a tough shooting first quarter for both teams, the Spurs managed to take a seven-point lead into the second quarter. The Spurs stepped on the gas and started to outplay Minnesota on both sides of the ball. They forced multiple turnovers and outscored the Wolves 35-18 to take a 24-point lead into the half. In the third, the pressure somehow kept escalating. The Spurs continued to dominate the pace and ramped up double teams for Anthony Edwards and others. They outscored the Wolves 39-28 in the third and put the game completely out of reach in the early fourth. The Spurs ultimately won 133-95, and tied the series 1-1.
Stephon Castle led the way with 21 points (6-10 FG, 9-9 FT), four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Steph fought off tough defenders and forced his way into the paint. With several slashing finishes and midrange jumpers, Steph also got to the free-throw line and drained all nine of his attempts. With his frame, Steph is interchangeable on both sides of the ball. He was active in the passing lanes and continues to play terrific on-ball defense. With the series shifting up north, the 21-year-old is playing as if he has already been here before.
BLOW-BY JAM! Steph fakes out Mike Conley and has a clear path for a monster slam!
Victor Wembanyama dropped a double-double: 19 points and 15 rebounds, along with two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Although it is not a triple-double with blocks, Wemby had a much better offensive game: shooting just under 50% from the field and splashing two threes. He managed to get two rejections (which, at this point, feels like a disappointment) and was deterring Wolves players from attempting shots in the paint. A balanced Wemby is unstoppable, as he continues to be an opposing coach’s nightmare to gameplan. Wemby is just as adaptable on either side of the ball, and he will be ready for what Chris Finch throws at him next.
UFO APPROACHING! Wemby plays solid defense, then runs the floor and skies in for the one-handed putback slam!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 16 points, two assists, and two steals. Fox faced a lot of criticism for his Game 1 performance, and he owned up to it postgame. He then started hot in Game 2, nearly matching his scoring total from Game 1 in the first quarter alone. He shot 50% from the field, and even drained a pair of threes. Due to the score of the game, the box score may not look like an out-of-this-world performance, but it definitely was the spark plug to kick the team into high gear.
INSTANT OFFENSE! After the Wolves’ bucket, Fox takes the inbounds pass and immediately zooms it to a cutting Carter Bryant for the destructive poster slam!
Julian Champagnie dropped 12 points (4-6 3PT), three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. After laying a goose egg in the first half, Julian dominated the third quarter. All of his threes came in the third, including a sequence that will make any Spurs fan smile. He drained a wing three, rejected Edwards’ shot out of bounds, and then drained another three after Fox picked Julius Randle’s pocket. Julian was one of the best three-point shooters in the league this season, and performances like this have Spurs fans thinking about Danny Green comparisons.
Dylan Harper dropped 11 points. seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. After leading the Spurs in scoring with 18 in Game 1, Dylan picked up right where he left off. He dished out dimes, was active on the boards, and made crazy dribbles with finishing moves. Night in and night out, Dylan continues to play like a seasoned vet. Anytime he brings the ball up the court, his playmaking instincts kick in, and it continues to make Spurs fans feel spoiled.
Dunker spot! Dylan finds an open Luke Kornet as the defense collapses, and it results in a two-handed finish!
UNGUARDABLE! Dylan catches the pass from Steph in transition and puts on a show. He spins off of Jaylen Clark, puts a move on Terrence Shannon Jr., and finishes while floating in the air!
Devin Vassell dropped 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Throughout his first playoffs, Dev has played like a playoff riser. His numbers might not wow the casual fan, but the effort he has shown on both ends of the floor has given the Spurs an extra boost. He always seems to make the extra play that is appreciated by the fans, and in this game it was this ridiculous no-dip catch and shoot three.
All in all, this was a much-needed bounce-back win. After coming out flat in Game 1, the silver and black ramped up the defensive pressure and finally started to generate easy looks that were executed. Harrison Barnes even poured in 12 points off the bench. Keldon Johnson dropped a near double-double with nine points and 10 boards. For context: Seven players finished in double figures, and 14 out of 15 scored (Poor Plumlee)! It was a total team effort and domination that has given the team and its fans confidence heading into Game 3 in Minnesota.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
Game 3 heads to Minneapolis this Friday at 8:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.
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May 6, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Members of the New York Mets celebrate defeating the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The offense showed up in a big way in the Mets’ 10-5 win over the Rockies. Marcus Semien led the offensive charge with a four-hit night that included a home run. Juan Soto also went deep leading off the game to set the tone early on. The pitching struggled a bit, but the Mets have now taken the first two games in the series with a snow day in between.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rangers 6, Yankees 1
The Rangers have won a game! Huzzah!
Not only did the Rangers win a game, they won it against one of the two teams in the American League with a record better than .500.
That’s right, its mediocrity as far as the eye can see in the A.L. right now.
Outstanding work by Nathan Eovaldi. Really top notch.
Eight innings, eight Ks, which is some nice symmetry. 101 pitches, of which almost two-thirds were either splitters or curveballs.
And even when Eovaldi did go fastball, he primarily used his cutter, which he threw 23 times. He only went with the fastball nine times, and threw four sinkers.
19 whiffs for Eovaldi, eight of them coming on the curveball. He threw it a lot more often than usual on Wednesday, and you can see why.
The only damper was a home run by Aaron Judge, but I’m pretty sure Aaron Judge homers every game so we can let that go.
Plus the Rangers actually scored some runs.
Novel concept, that.
Evan Carter homered and Corey Seager homered. We like that, right?
The Rangers are two games below .500 now, but still just a game back of the A’s, and tied with the Mariners. That mediocrity I was talking about earlier, you know.
I mentioned that the Yankees are one of two teams in the American League above .500. They are 25-12, tied with the Cubs for the second-best record in baseball, behind the 26-12 Atlanta Braves.
The other team in the A.L. above .500? The Tampa Bay Rays. They are 24-12.
Yeah, that surprised me, too.
Tampa has won 6 in a row and 12 of their last 13. In fact, Tampa has three six game winning streaks so far this year. Its weird.
So there are four teams with 12 losses currently. There are also four teams with 23 losses — the Astros, the Angels, the Giants, and the Rockies.
And there are six — count ‘em, six — teams with exactly 20 losses. That seems like a lot.
Nathan Eovaldi touched 96.8 mph with his fastball, averaging 95.0 mph. Jacob Latz’s fastball reached 95.5 mph.
Jake Burger had a 109.1 mph single and a 103.0 mph ground out. Ezequiel Duran had a 107.6 mph double and a 102.3 mph sacrifice fly. Evan Carter had a 106.2 mph ground out, and his home run was 99.6 mph. Brandon Nimmo had a 104.2 mph ground out. Corey Seager’s homer was 101.7 mph.
Juan Soto had only hit in the leadoff spot two times in his big-league career prior to this week.
But when Carlos Mendoza approached him with the idea of moving him there in an effort to create more traffic for the Mets' shorthanded offense, he was all-in.
"I told him right away, whatever he wants," Soto said. "Wherever he wants me I'll be there -- anything I can do to help the team out, I'm going to be open to it."
Soto went hitless in his return to the spot during Monday's series opener, but he was able to do some damage against Rockies right-hander Michael Lorenzen to open the ballgame Wednesday night.
Just three pitches into the ballgame, he jumped all over a low-and-away curveball, crushing it 435 feet to left-center for his fourth homer of the season and the first leading off in his career.
"It's great," Soto said. "To be able to punch first in the first inning with the team is always great -- it gets the guys going and helps the starter sit and breathe a little starting the game with the lead, it's definitely great."
That ended up being Soto's only hit in the ballgame, but he did drive in another run with a sacrifice fly as the bottom of the Mets' order got things going again during the middle innings.
New York struck three times in the fourth, four in the sixth, and two in the ninth in a much-needed 10-run outburst.
Brett Baty, Carson Benge, Marcus Semien, and Francisco Alvarez combined to account for 10 of the team's 15 hits while scoring eight runs and driving in five out of the five-through-nine spots in the lineup.
Semien spearheaded the effort by delivering the team's first four-hit game of the season.
"It's always great to have the bottom of the lineup producing and helping the top part of the order have some breathing room," Soto said. "It was great to see those guys come through like that."
Soto did appear to have a bit of an injury scare, but he told Carlos Mendoza that he was fine.
The Mets will look to complete their first series sweep since the beginning of April with Christian Scott taking the ball for the third time this season on Thursday afternoon.
"It's important to continue winning series," Mendoza said. "It's important to come back and get the third one tomorrow -- but it is good to see the guys playing loose, playing with confidence, and not trying to do too much."
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished their road trip at .500, and are exhaling in a multitude of ways.
The most immediate concern was for their starting pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, who exited Wednesday’s matinee game against the Houston Astros just after taking the mound to warm up for the second inning. Initial news was that it was Glasnow’s lower back that was bothering him.
Back pain is nothing new to Glasnow, who has dealt with it most of his major league career. Most recently the 6’8” pitcher skipped a start last September dealing with what he called “tall guy back”. In 2024 he also dealt with it but avoided the IL.
Glasnow did not put up too much of a fight when the trainer came out to talk to him. He had thrown 19 pitches in the first inning, and that would be all he would throw. After the game, Manager Dave Roberts said that there would be a precautionary MRI when the team returned to Los Angeles, but Glasnow is not expected to land on the IL.
“I think today, given the situation with Tyler, it couldn’t have been a better outcome,” Roberts said.
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic has more info on Glasnow and the pitching staff as a whole here.
Another thing that led to a happy flight home was the offense continued to score against the Astros. The team scored eight in Monday’s game, only one in Tuesday’s game, but then erupted for 12 runs in Wednesday’s game.
They started the game by scoring on three different wild pitches off the arm of Lance McCullers Jr, but that triplet was overshadowed by Andy Pages’ three home runs. He had half of the RBI and made some great plays in center.
“Just having a lot of confidence in what I’m doing up there,” Pages said through interpreter Juan Dorado. “The bad streak really happened when I was hitting the ball well and hitting the ball hard, just not finding a lot of holes. But staying to my plan, staying confident in my approach, and the results are coming now.”
Courtney Hollman of MLB.com covers more of Roberts’ thoughts on the day.
The end of the exhale was over other certain players performances at the plate. Shohei Ohtani had a double to right center in his second at bat, and added a walk and an RBI single to his day. Kyle Tucker’s bat also seemed to come alive in Houston, going 7-for 21.
Bill Plunkett of the OC Register goes in depth with quotes from players here.
The Dodgers will need all cylinders firing together as they will begin a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, who are owners of the best record in all of MLB.
The Thunder take the court tonight in Oklahoma City up just one game against the Lakers but seemingly in complete control. OKC dominated LA in the opener, winning 108–90.
The Oklahoma City Thunder look every bit the part of defending champions having dictated every aspect of the opener including the pace and the physicality, and defensive tone. Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held to a season-low 18 points, Chet Holmgren’s 24 points and 12 rebounds and OKC’s overall length and interior presence overwhelmed Los Angeles at both ends of the court
For the Lakers, the story is simple: they need far more than LeBron James. The NBA great scored 27 points in Game 1, but the supporting cast struggled mightily, most notably Austin Reaves, who shot just 3-for-16 from the field in what was described as one of the most inefficient playoff games of his career. With Luka Dončić (hamstring) still sidelined, the Lakers’ offense was predictable. This allowed OKC to load up defensively on LA’s role players and force LeBron to shoulder the entire burden. Los Angeles must reduce the number of turnovers, improve their perimeter shooting, and find a way to generate easier looks against OKC’s swarming defense. Sounds easy enough.
With OKC favored in Game 2 by double digits again and boasting advantages in rebounding, efficiency, and depth, the pressure is squarely on L.A. to make meaningful adjustments. Whether Reaves rebounds, whether LeBron can sustain another high-usage night, and whether the Lakers can withstand OKC’s relentless pace all while hoping Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does not bounce back will determine tonight’s outcome. The overwhelming majority know that if the Thunder replicate their defensive intensity and balanced scoring, they will head to Southern California with a commanding 2–0 lead in this series.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Thunder vs. Lakers
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 9:30PM EST
Site: Paycom Center
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Network/Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
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Game Odds: Thunder vs. Lakers
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder (-900), Los Angeles Lakers (+600)
Spread: Thunder -15.5
Total: 209.5 points
This game opened Thunder -15.5 with the Game Total set at 212.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG Luguentz Dort
C Isaiah Hartenstein
SG Ajay Mitchell
PF Chet Holmgren
Los Angeles Lakers
PG Marcus Smart
SG Austin Reaves
C Deandre Ayton
PF Rui Hachimura
SF LeBron James
Injury Report: Thunder vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Thomas Sorber (knee) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Luke Kennard (neck) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Jarred Vanderbilt (finger) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Thunder vs. Lakers
The Lakers are 27-18 on the road this season
The Thunder are 37-7 at home this season
The Lakers are 49-39-1 ATS this season
OKC is 42-44-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 47 of the Thunder’s 87 games this season (47-40)
The OVER has cashed in 44 of the Lakers’ 89 games this season (44-45)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned the ball over a season-high 7 times in Game 1
Lu Dort scored 6 points in Game 1
Dort has failed to reach double digits in scoring in the playoffs this season
Jared McCain scored 12 points in 15 minutes in Game 1
McCain was the game’s top 3-point shooter knocking down 4 (in 5 attempts)
Deandre Ayton pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds (as did Chet Holmgren)
Marcus Smart had 7 assists, his highest total since Game 3 of their series against the Rockets
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Thunder and Lakers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Thunder -15.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from play on the Game Total of 209.5
Thunder Game Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Thunder Game Total OVER 112.5
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The story of this game was the performance from Rorik Maltrud. He went 7 scoreless innings giving up just one hit with 8 strikeouts. He has had a really awesome season as his ERA is down to 2.08. He is a little older than you’d like to see for a prospect who is just now pitching well in AAA but he has been the Clippers best starter.
It wasn’t a huge day offensively for the Clippers but there were a couple nice performances. George Valera and Nolan Jones both went 2-5. Stuart Fairchild went 1-3 with a smoked double and a two walks. Kody Huff went 2-2 with 2 RBIs and a double. He has had a really nice season thus far.
Ralphy Velazquez continues to have a great season in AA. He went 1-3 with two walks last night and is now hitting .297 with an .893 OPS on the season. He should be promoted to AAA sooner rather than later in my personal opinion. Jacob Cozart went 2-4 with an RBI double. Nick Mitchell went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI double.
It has been a rough season for Dylan Delucia but he had an excellent outing today. He tossed 4 scoreless innings while striking out 6 batters and walking just 1. His ERA sits at 8.41 on the season. Carter Rustad also had two scorless innings of relief with two strikeouts and no walks. He has had a really nice season as his ERA is down to 1.10.
Is it just me or does it seem like Great Lakes(Dodgers affiliate) has owned the Captains for years now? It was a rough performance overall from the Captains. Jogly Garcia was someone with a bit of hype coming into this season and it has been rough for him. His ERA is up to 7.25 on the season after giving up 6 runs in just 4.1 innings. The Captains totaled just 3 hits in this one, two of those coming from Ryan Cesarini that included a HR.
The Howlers were the only affiliate to win today, and it was mostly due to their pitching performances. Nelson Keljo allowed 2 runs in his 3 innings pitched, and then the bullpen allowed just 1 more run in 6 innings with 9 strikeouts.
Robert Arias continues to be the most impressive young prospect on a team full of young impressive prospects. He went 0-1 with 3 walks tonight. He is hitting .323 with an OPS of .933. Anthony Martinez went 2-4, Yeiferth Castillo went 1-4 with an RBI double, and Yerlin Luis walked it off with a solo HR in the bottom of the 9th.
There’s more space on the ice in the Montreal Canadiens’ series against the Buffalo Sabres than there was against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It showed on Wednesday night. Ivan Demidov was more visible and created interesting plays at even strength, but there was no one to complete the plays.
While Jake Evans is a good player, he is not, and should not be used as a second-line center. Of course, the fact that he won nine of his 13 faceoffs for a 69.2% success rate allowed the line to get puck possession, but he doesn’t have the finishing touch needed to play with the Russian rookie.
The top six might have failed to produce last night, but both lines showed that they are more suited to that brand of hockey than to the one played against Tampa. I don’t believe taking Juraj Slafkovsky away from the top line would be the way to go, not yet, anyway. The Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Slafkovsky line generated nine shots on net.
For now, it could be a good move to bring Oliver Kapanen back in the lineup and have him play alongside Demidov and Alex Newhook. Granted, the Finn didn’t do much in his five games against Tampa, but it could be interesting to see what he can do against Buffalo in a speedier kind of game. Whichever way you look at it, the rookie had 22 goals in the regular season, two of which were scored against the Sabres.
Of course, bringing Kapanen back in the lineup would mean scratching someone to make room, but at this stage, with what Demidov is showing, it’s time to give him the linemates he was comfortable with and piled up the points with in the regular season.
While Joe Veleno had a good first game in these playoffs with five hits, I believe it’s important to get the second line going in a series that promises to be all about the offense.
May 6, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) delivers a pitch during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
A few weeks ago upon the news of Angels franchise icon Garret Anderson passing away, John wrote a tribute to him, saluting him as one of the great Yankee Killers of recent vintage. Although David Ortiz was far more famous, Yankees pitchers were also quite flummoxed by having to pitch to Garret.
Now today, we’re on the other side of the ball and on the heels of the Yankees once again getting rolled by the man we’ve taken to calling “an old frenemy,” Nathan Eovaldi. The Yanks have lost just twice in the last nine games, and both times were at Eovaldi’s hands. The former Yankee has pretty much always pitched well in such situtations, with a 2.82 career ERA in career 153 innings against New York (including his two playoff wins with Boston), and he’s been especially good of late. Since the start of 2025, he’s allowed a grand total of two runs in four starts across a span of 29 innings, a minuscule 0.63 ERA. Goodness.
With Eovaldi’s excellence in mind, who do you think is the best Yankees Killer on the mound? If you need a refresher, there are some good names to consider. Hall of Fame southpaw Randy Johnson was brutal for just about everyone to deal with, and he helped two separate teams send the Yankees home in October around a time when that wasn’t happening very often — first with the 1995 Mariners, just before the dynasty really got humming and then with the 2001 Diamondbacks, who effectively ended the championship run. He even pitched in relief during the win-or-go-home elimination games on both occasions!
There’s also Luis Tiant, Dave Stieb, Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Cliff Lee, Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and of course the originally-named “Yankee Killer,” midcentury All-Star Frank Lary. Knuckleballing Hall of Fame swingman Hoyt Wilhelm also had a 1.98 ERA in 209.1 career innings against New York around the same time as Lary, and he threw what still stands as the last complete-game no-hitter against the Yankees back in 1958. If you want obscure and random, I remember the Red Sox having a soft-tosser named Frank Castillo who absolutely gave the Yankees fits in the early 2000s. More recently, Cristian Javier and Brayan Bello have been tougher customers against the Yanks than most other teams.
So take your pick! I think Johnson probably has too much of a resume to ignore, but if we’re talking non-Hall of Famers, boy was it never, ever fun to face Cliff Lee. And like Johnson, he made the Yanks look awful in postseason play pretty much whenever he got a chance.
It’s not surprising that the Yankees’ front office wanted him so much, nearly trading for him in July 2010 and falling short in the 2011 free agent sweepstakes. If you prefer to be optimistic (in a way) though, maybe it would’ve just turned out like Johnson’s own up-and-down, abbreviated Yankees career.
Today on the site, Peter will focus in on an at-bat from David Bednar’s five-out save on May 5th for his Sequence of the Week feature, Madison will have the Rivalry Roundup, and Jonathan’s Yankees Birthday post discusses Tom Zachary, who won a World Series in pinstripes in 1928 but is most famous for something he did before ever joining the Yankees: surrendering Babe Ruth’s then-record 60th homer of the legendary 1927 campaign. Later, Estevão will ponder the extremely middling American League landscape, and after the matinee, Jeremy will pay his respects to the late John Sterling with a tribute from the perspective of an aspiring broadcaster in his own right.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Amir Coffey #2 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Phoenix Suns Season in Review series, where we revisit every player who suited up during the 2025–26 campaign through the lens of expectation, reality, and what it ultimately meant.
Player Snapshot
Position: SG/SF
Age: 28
Contract Status: One-year deal, UFA in 2026-2027
SunsRank (Preseason): N/A
SunsRank (Postseason): 15
*SunsRank is based on Bright Side writers’ ranking.
Season in One Sentence
Arriving halfway through the year, Amir Coffey showed that his hustle and hard work on the court embodied what the Phoenix Suns culture was all about.
By the Numbers
He may have spent limited time here, but let’s look at those stats.
GP
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
DEFRTG
OFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
16
14.1
4.8
1.9
1.0
0.4
0.1
50%
41.7%
69.2%
110.6
116.2
+5.6
The Expectation
The bar was not set too high for Coffey, but he had a bar to reach. The team clearly needed more wing depth, with Rasheer Fleming not getting much burn and Grayson Allen sustaining injuries throughout the year. With free agent signing Nigel Hayes-Davis also not living up to the hype, taking a flyer on Coffey was the right call, especially for a team that needed a boost at that moment.
The Reality
Coffey came to Phoenix and fit the team’s culture and needs. With Dillon Brooks breaking his hand and also being sidelined, this provided the opportunity for Coffey to get some playing time. Since the Suns also signed Haywood Highsmith, the small wing room has become really deep. Coffey only suited up in 16 games for the Suns, but brought some positive energy on both ends in his short time.
Compared to his time spent in Milwaukee earlier in the year, Coffey was in a better spot. For starters, he got more minutes here in Phoenix, 14, compared to 9 in his previous venture. The wing also proved he could do exactly what the team needed him to do. Coffey made big-time threes if he was open, he hustled for OREB’s to create second-chance plays, and he used his active hands to create turnovers.
These were all things that allowed him to generate some playing time until he was injured towards the end of the season. That then shut down Coffey as the Suns geared up for the playoffs and were shrinking the rotation.
What It Means
With Coffey being an unrestricted free agent, the Suns could bring him back, and with his smaller role, it would not be too expensive. The question is whether too much wing depth arises. They already have Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith, and want to develop Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming.
Fans widely expect the Suns to move one of those wings for a true power forward, and if that is the case, he could be brought back as the third-string small forward, but the Suns could look to get younger, too. Coffey was a late-season signing with the Bucks last offseason, so the market may be low for the wing, allowing the Suns to leave the option out there but not strike right away on a new deal.
I like Coffey and would like to have him back, but the roster construction may prove otherwise.
The best moment of the season for Coffey came on March 5th, when he had his best game for the Suns. Even in the loss, he posted up 12 points and 4 rebounds, showcasing his true 3&D ability as a wing.
Amir Coffey has consistently brought energy and impactful plays for this team since his addition at the deadline
Love his hustle and grind to do the little things for Phoenix, definitely should not go unnoticed
Even if he was not a key impact player every night, given what he was expected to be, Coffey deserves this rating.
He came in the middle of the season and looked a lot better on this Suns team than he did on the Bucks. Now, you could argue the Bucks’ dysfunction and their coaching staff compared to the Suns was that issue, but I think that is a disservice to Coffey, who showed he could still be a solid role player.
One that I was very interested in the Suns signing this previous offseason, and was happy they could acquire at least some point down the line. Coffey came in and filled a need for wing depth, while being better than Nigel Hayes-Davis, whom they traded him for.
To me, that is not only a win for the Suns but also for Coffey, allowing him to find himself on a roster next year if it is not Phoenix.
Attack Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in four different ways in an attempt to choke off the oxygen of the Oklahoma City offense. By doing so, the Lakers were daring anyone else on the team to beat them.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggling, Chet Holmgren finished with a team-high 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
While the Lakers were busy blitzing, trapping, shading, swarming, and hedging the reigning MVP, Holmgren slipped through the cracks like a cool breeze under a locked door.
He finished with a team-high 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. He drained two threes, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Just when you cut off the head of the snake, another head reappears and bites you.
The Lakers made SGA look human in Game 1. They held him to 18 points—the first time he’s scored under 20 in almost a year—and forced him into a shocking seven turnovers and only three free throw attempts. Both well off his season averages.
“We got back in transition, we matched up, and then all of a sudden we walked away from him and he got a wide open dunk,” said Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick, when asked how Holmgren was able to slip through the cracks while the defense was locked in on SGA. “That is not something we want to do in Game 2.”
With Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, Holmgren helped carry the load as the Thunder were a +9 when SGA was on the bench. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
The Lakers’ Holmgren problem is something to look for in Game 2 on Thursday.
When he and SGA are on the floor together, he gets wide-open looks when the Lakers’ big runs out to hedge the post. Oftentimes, both Deandre Ayton and Jaxon Hayes were able to force SGA into throwing the ball away, but sometimes he was quicker than they were and found a wide-open Holmgren.
When SGA sits and Holmgren remains on the floor, there’s no letdown.
OKC’s offense doesn’t stall without their MVP, it continues on. In the non-SGA minutes in Game 1, the Thunder were plus-9 and had an offensive efficiency rating of 133.3.
“We have to be better when Shai is not on the floor,” said Redick on Wednesday. “They play a very specific way when he is not on the floor… we need to be even if not win those minutes.”
The Lakers’ strategy on SGA is working.
In fact, it might be their only path to upsetting OKC in the series. But to Redick’s point, when he’s not on the floor, you have to keep your foot on the gas. The Lakers need to win those minutes, not lose them by nine points.
One of the best defenders in the NBA, Holmgren’s offense was on full display in the Game 1 victory over the Lakers.
Getty Images
One way to do that is to contain Holmgren.
That’s easier said than done, but it starts with discipline, execution, and not drifting.
The man guarding Holmgren must stay with him at all times and not get caught drifting or ball-watching. Because that split-second of hesitation can be the difference between a stop or a wide-open dunk.
According to Redick, containing Holmgren requires remaining physical and holding OKC to midrange jump shots. They have to continue to blitz SGA and limit his operating window, but the bigs also need to get back to Holmgren in time to stop him.
Because right now, they’re solving one problem, but creating another.
And Holmgren is that new problem.
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DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: John Poulakidas #1 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Collin Sexton #2 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was no John Poulakidas player preview here at MavsMoneyball. That is understandable given the undrafted rookie’s whereabouts at the time. Back in October, he was preparing to play 27 minutes per night for the Clippers’ G-League affiliate, having been waived by Los Angeles in camp two weeks earlier. He didn’t become a Maverick until early March, shortly after Ryan Nembhard’s two-way contract was upgraded to a standard deal. He made his NBA debut that same night, played in 13 games over the next six weeks, and ended the season with eight made threes and a career-high 28 points in the same finale where Nembhard broke Jason Kidd’s franchise rookie assist record.
Two undrafted guys on the same squad, both having memorable nights on the last day of a 26-win season.
Who is this guy?
John Poulakidas is a 6-foot-6 lefty shooter from Naperville, Illinois, who finished his college career as the second-leading three-point shooter in Yale history. He shot 40.2 percent from deep across 110 games for the Bulldogs, made 243 career threes, and finished 10th on Yale’s all-time scoring list at 1,362 points. The most efficient way to describe him is also the most accurate one: he’s a shooter, and he has been a shooter for a long time.
The college résumé has texture beyond the percentages. As a junior in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Poulakidas hit the game-winning jumper in Yale’s 78-76 first-round upset of fourth-seeded Auburn, finishing with 28 points on six made threes. He returned for a senior year, led the Ivy League in scoring at 19.4 points per game, earned First Team All-Ivy honors, and was named MVP of the Ivy League Tournament after a 25-point championship game against Cornell. He went undrafted in 2025 and signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Clippers before getting waived in camp.
Season retrospective
Most of his year was spent with the San Diego Clippers, the L.A. Clippers’ G-League affiliate. Across 24 regular-season games there, Poulakidas averaged 14.7 points and shot 47.3 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game (96-of-203), the seventh-highest three-point mark in the G League among qualified players. After joining Dallas in March, he played 14 minutes in his NBA debut that night, a 117-90 loss to Charlotte.
His March was a typical two-way distribution. Most of his time went to the Texas Legends. At the NBA level, the appearances were short and scattered: 18 minutes for three points against the Pelicans, 28 minutes for 11 points against the Bucks, single-digit cameos in between. Somewhere in there, Mark Followill landed on “Pull-a-three-dis.” The long-time announcer’s nicknames don’t always work. This one did — the kind of corny that earns its smile during garbage time.
April rebooted the workload. Cooper Flagg’s ankle was managing him out of the rotation. Dallas had nothing to play for. The bench got long. On April 8 against the Suns, Poulakidas put up 23 points on five made threes in 29 minutes off the bench, his career high at the time. Four days later, in the season finale against Chicago, he played 36 minutes and finished with 28 points on 8-of-16 from three.
Outlook
Most rebuilds come with built-in upside. Bad year, high pick, talent infusion later. Dallas doesn’t get that. The team’s first-round picks are mostly gone for the next four years, which means there’s no benefit to being terrible. This year the losses helped the Tankathon premise. For the next four years, losing will do this franchise no good at all. The Mavericks have to rebuild without the usual rebuilding rewards, and that puts a different kind of pressure on every roster spot. The cheap value has to be developed in-house, in the places other teams aren’t looking.
A player like Poulakidas is exactly the kind of low-cost flier that math rewards. He shot 40.3 percent from three across his 13 NBA games. He shot 47.3 percent from three across his G-League work in San Diego. He shot 40.2 percent from three across four years at Yale. The shooting profile has been consistent at every level he’s played. He’s 23, which fits the Flagg-era timeline cleanly, and cheap perimeter shooting that takes pressure off a focal point is one of the more useful things a rebuilding roster can have—especially one that can’t draft its way out of holes.
The roster math complicates the path. We can pencil a draft pick that will likely get plenty of minutes if not a solid starter role. Perhaps that will be alongside Kyrie Irving, who will slated to return from his knee injury next season. Klay Thompson is potentially still here at least to start of the campaign. Max Christie is locked in. Flagg eats wing wherever he wants them. Poulakidas is not breaking up that group. The question is whether the back-of-bench shooter who made 31 of 77 threes in a lost season is the kind of guy you keep on a real contract instead of the kind of guy you let walk because the slot is needed for someone else.
Two-way contracts exist for cases like this. They’re cheap experiments at the back of the roster, low-risk fliers on undrafted prospects, and most of them produce nothing memorable. Poulakidas’s two-way produced 13 NBA games, two career nights, and a back-of-the-bench question that has more substance than back-of-the-bench questions usually do.
He didn’t earn what Nembhard earned. The sample is too small and the context too soft. But he earned a look, and he earned a question. On a roster that can’t draft its way out of holes, the question itself is an asset.
The new Ujiri front office now decides on the answer.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 13: Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) during the ACC Men's basketball tournament between the Clemson Tigers and the Duke Blue Devils on March 13, 2026 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It is admittedly easy to get a little bored watching Cameron Boozer. Scouting young basketball players usually offers a sense of discovery, but Boozer has been displaying the same steady dominance since he was 14 years old. There are no frills to his game, just sound decision-making with a well-rounded skill set and a physical style of play. As a high school player, Boozer won four state championships in Florida, three EYBL championships on the Nike grassroots circuit, two gold medals with USA Basketball, and one mythical national championship playing against prep schools from all over the country. His Duke team lost three games by a combined five points all year, and it took a miracle to keep them out of the Final Four. At every stop, Boozer has consistently been the star player driving his team’s success.
Critics will always find a way to excuse Boozer’s mastery. He was overpowering high schoolers. He won’t be able to score over real rim protectors in the pros. NBA forwards are going to burn him with their speed. At least so far, Boozer has been unfazed by any jump in competition despite also being the youngest player on the floor with a July 2007 birthday that will make him the only projected lottery pick who is still 18 years old on draft day.
There are no perfect players, and Boozer is far from perfect. He’s slow, he isn’t a great leaper, and often looks pretty stiff in tight spaces. Of course, you can poke holes in Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic too, and it hasn’t stopped them from being three of the best players of their generation.
Boozer was the best player in college basketball this season as a true freshman, but he isn’t considered the consensus No. 1 overall pick at the top of the 2026 NBA Draft. Classmates A.J Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson are excellent prospects in their own rights, and in some ways it’s understandable why people think they will translate to the pros better than Boozer. I’m here to tell you those people are overthinking it. Boozer is the best prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, and each team that passes on him in the lottery is making a huge mistake.
Boozer has crushed every level of competition. There’s no reason to think it won’t continue in the NBA.
Boozer’s production is unmatched
Boozer became the fifth freshman ever to win the Wooden Award as college basketball’s most outstanding player this season, and it was nearly unanimous with 59 of 61 first-place votes.
Boozer just had college basketball’s second most productive season since basketball-reference started tracking box-score plus/minus. BPM is an all-in-one metric that “estimates a basketball player’s contribution to the team when that player is on the court.” It is not a flawless stat, but it’s one of the better public metrics for capturing individual performance.
Being super productive at a young age against older competition is perhaps the biggest signal of future stardom. The only other freshmen on this list — Williamson, Davis, Flagg, and Holmgren — have all acquitted themselves well in the NBA so far.
Rank
Player
BPM
Year
School
1
Zion Williamson
20.1
2019
Duke
2
Cameron Boozer
18.4
2026
Duke
3
Anthony Davis
17.24
2012
Kentucky
4
Sindarius Thornwell
17.14
2017
South Carolina
5
Zach Edey
16.7
2024
Purdue
6
Yaxel Lendeborg
16.7
2026
Michigan
7
Cooper Flagg
16.35
2025
Duke
8
Brandon Clarke
16.3
2019
Gonzaga
9
Frank Kaminsky
16.2
2015
Wisconsin
10
Trayce Jackson-Davis
16.02
2023
Indiana
11
Keegan Murray
15.69
2022
Iowa
12
Denzel Valentine
15.57
2016
Michigan State
13
Delon Wright
15.55
2015
Utah
14
Zach Edey
15.39
2023
Purdue
15
Victor Oladipo
15.09
2013
Indiana
16
Donovan Clingan
15
2024
UConn
17
Chet Holmgren
14.97
2022
Gonzaga
Want some diversity in your all-in-one metrics? Boozer also posted the highest single-season RAPM score since Hoop-Exploder started tracking college basketball in 2017-18. RAPM measures a player’s impact on scoring margin to reflect their contribution to team success regardless of numbers in the box score. In short, when Boozer is on the floor, his team consistently wins his minutes. I don’t think that trend is stopping now.
Boozer’s offensive versatility is unmatched
Most players are best when they’re used in certain ways. Not Boozer. The 6’9, 250-pound forward can play a variety of different roles on offense, and excel in all of them. This season at Duke, Boozer spent at least nine percent of his time doing eight different play types, and scored efficiently on all of them.
Yes, Boozer was able to bully college competition on post-ups. He was also awesome at pick-and-roll ball handling, spot-up shooting, offensive rebounding, isolation scoring, cuts, and roll man duties. Here’s the points per possession data on these variety play types, via Synergy Sports. This shows that Boozer won’t be pigeonholed into a role at the next level.
Play type
PPP
PPP Rank
PPP Rating
Percent of Time
Post Up
1.096
86%
Excellent
21%
Pick and Roll Handler
0.938
77%
Very Good
10.90%
Spot-Up
1.269
95%
Excellent
10.50%
Transition
1.347
88%
Excellent
10.10%
Offensive Rebounds (Putbacks)
1.384
85%
Excellent
9.80%
Iso
1.042
81%
Very Good
9.70%
Cut
1.486
88%
Excellent
9.70%
PnR Roll Man
1.275
82%
Very Good
9.30%
Boozer has a supercomputer brain
Boozer is great in a lot of areas, but his best skill may be his processing. You might be more likely to hear that term when reading about quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, but it’s equally critical in basketball. Star players need to be able internalize a constantly changing set of variables in a split second and use it to maximize their win probability on any given possession. Boozer does this better than any 18-year-old forward you will ever see.
Boozer is such a good scorer that he commands a lot of defensive attention. It only makes him more deadly as a passer. He’s the sort of player who never forces his own offense, and instead just wants to make the right play. Watch this possession, where Boozer turns a post-up into an alley-oop dunk by manipulating the weakside defender with his eyes to make him think the pass is going to the corner.
Look at this pass against national champion Michigan where Boozer sucks in the help as a driver before bailing out at the very last second to create an open wing three for his teammate:
I can't believe this pass from Cam Boozer on Saturday. Unreal stuff. Backhand pass while moving down the lane at full speed…. It is silly how impressive this is. pic.twitter.com/jv9jaziA3r
Boozer’s 25.6 percent assist is a tremendous mark for a freshman with his size, and I’m even more impressed by his 3.6 rim assists per 100 possessions. Rim assists are the most valuable pass you can make on the court because there’s a greater chance of completing the play than with a longer jump shot.
Here’s how Boozer compares as a passer to his other peers projected to be drafted in the top-10.
Player
Assist %
Rim assists per 100
Cameron Boozer
25.6
3.6
AJ Dybantsa
22.1
2.2
Darryn Peterson
12.5
1.8
Caleb Wilson
18.1
2.5
Kingston Flemings
32.6
3.7
Yaxel Lendeborg
18
2.9
Keaton Wagler
23.2
2.4
Only Flemings is a better playmaker among the elite prospects in this class, and he’s a smaller guard at 6’3. Boozer doesn’t have to play on the ball (more on that later), but when he does, you can trust him to make excellent decisions.
Boozer’s physicality is top notch
Boozer exited Duke’s shocking Elite Eight loss to UConn with “a couple fractures” in his face and scratches all over his arms. His opponents got it just as badly as he did he all year. Boozer consistently uses his 250-pound frame to his advantage, and it shows up mostly in his rebounding, screen setting, hard rolls to the rim, and ability to get to the foul line.
Boozer is going to generate a lot of extra possessions on the offensive glass. His 12.5 percent offensive rebound rate ranked in the 97th percentile for prospects in this draft class, per DraftBallr. On this possession, Boozer creates the open corner three for a teammate, works to get into rebound position, and finishes it with a putback after he grabs the offensive board.
Boozer uses his physicality to consistently muscle his way into free throws, too. Getting to the foul line is a star skill in the NBA, and Boozer has it. On this play, he’s acting as the roll man and finishes over Rueben Chinyelu for the and-one. Chinyelu is listed at 6’10, 265 pounds with a 7’8 wingspan, which would make him one of the longest and heaviest players in the NBA. Boozer still invited the contact and got the bucket.
cam boozer moves florida's rueben chinyelu – one of the most physical and strongest players in college basketball – under the basket for an easy and-1 finish pic.twitter.com/4Bt9REbGUC
Boozer’s 53.6 percent free throw rate ranks in the 89th percentile of the class, per DraftBallr. You can count on him to make his freebies too with a 79 percent stroke from the foul line on 280 attempts.
Boozer will shoot at a high level in the NBA
Boozer’s free throw percentage is a sign of strong touch, and his range extends to the NBA three-point line. This season, he made 39.1 percent of his 138 three-pointers. He’s going to be a weapon on pick-and-pops from day one while also being able to space the floor as a spot-up shooter.
Boozer had 147 possessions as a jump shooter this year and scored 1.12 points per possession, which ranked in the 86th percentile of the country. He’s at his best as a shooter when a teammate sets him up. Boozer scored 1.22 PPP on his catch-and-shoot attempts this year, posting impressive 61.2 percent true shooting on those opportunities. He has easy NBA range on his jumper when he gets squared up.
Boozer can hit shots over contests despite a slower release. On 41 possessions this season, he went 16-of-25 and scored 1.17 PPP on “contested jumpers,” according to Synergy.
He does have some limiting factors as a shooter right now. He’s not a super high volume three-point chucker after taking 6.5 threes per 100 possessions this season. He’ll want to bump up that two or three more in the pros. He’s also not a natural shooter off the dribble yet. He scored 0.90 PPP on dribble jumpers this year, which ranked in the 65th percentile and merely rated as “good” — a rarity on Boozer’s profile.
The pull-up jumper is a superstar skill, and Boozer will need to develop it to reach his highest-end outcomes. It’s also going to be an important counter when he’s not fast enough to beat his man off the dribble. Here’s one example where Boozer ripped a step-back three after his drive was denied against Louisville. If he can do this with more consistency, his offensive ceiling is going to be through the roof.
Boozer can drive really well for a 250-pound forward
Boozer’s simple-yet-effective driving is one of the best parts of his game. He can be trusted to run pick-and-roll or attack a smaller defender on isolations, and the threat of his downhill scoring opens up opportunities to make plays as a live dribble passer. While he doesn’t have a ton of counters in the middle of the floor, he can usually rely on his bully ball game to get to the line if all else fails.
When a guard screens for Boozer, he knows how to punish switches by running over smaller defenders. Even without crazy pop off the floor as a leaper, he’s still able to square himself to the basket, and he has the touch to make below-the-rim finishes.
Great rep as a pick-and-roll handler from Cameron Boozer. I want to see him used like this more often: pic.twitter.com/eqVJtxvOUJ
Boozer made 64.5 percent of his rim attempts this season with 57 percent of them coming unassisted. He doesn’t need to play as a full-time point forward because he’s so good in so many other areas, but he can take on those duties in a pinch if his team needs it.
Boozer is already pretty good at driving and finishing with either hand. He’s not the most agile driver, but he has step-throughs and Eurosteps when he needs them.
Boozer almost never settles from mid-range. He only took 52 two-point attempts all season away from the rim. When he has the ball, he’s going to the hole or kicking out to a teammate to space the floor. You could argue not having a mid-range game hurts Boozer’s NBA translation if he’s expected to be in a star role — the mid-range is said to be the domain of superstars — but non-rim twos are also the least efficient shot any player can take. The fact that he prioritizes a ‘Moreyball’ shot-profile is a wonderful thing for a player this young.
Boozer’s outlet passing will boost transition offense
Boozer has been throwing dimes in transition going back to his high school days. He’s such a dependable defensive rebounder, and when he gets to the ball he’s always looking to hunt for quick-hit opportunities in transition.
One minute of Cameron Boozer outlet passes. His defensive rebounding, passing and grab-and-go abilities will all juice transition offense. pic.twitter.com/1WAzAIUDvV
Boozer’s combination of usage, scoring volume, and efficiency at such a young age is a strong star indicator. This year, he scored 40.3 points per 100 possessions on 65.3 percent true shooting with a 30.6 percent usage rate. A team can run their offense through him and reap the rewards, but he can also thrive in an off-ball role as a floor spacer, rebounder, and connective passer.
Boozer is going to be a plus in the possession game. He’s an outstanding rebounder for a power forward on both ends of the floor. His 14.7 percent turnover rate and +1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio aren’t the strongest numbers …. but it’s still better than Dybantsa (15 percent turnover rate with +1.2 assist-to-turnover ratio) while clearing Peterson in A/TO. He got to the foul line more than Dybantsa or Peterson, too.
Boozer is not super long or super athletic. He will allow blow-bys defensively that compromise his team’s structure. He’s going to have some games where he’s not finishing well at the rim in the halfcourt. He’ll probably need to tighten his handle so he doesn’t get picked trying to run over smaller NBA defenders.
Even if you allow for all of that, Boozer is still the best player in the class because when the ball hits his hands, his team gets a good shot. He thinks the game at a high level, he has impressive touch as a shooter from all over the floor, and he plays a physical style that will translate well when the game slows down in the playoffs. He’s able to vacillate between all these roles on the same possession and still maximize his team’s chances of scoring.
This play shows Boozer’s versatility on different play types, his motor to keep hunting an advantage, and his quick processing ability.
MSU defense stops the Boozer drive, he flows into handoff, becomes the roller, throws the short roll lob to Patrick Ngongba, who is undercut and gets free throws pic.twitter.com/6Zs4mrTbN4
Boozer is a better shooter than Dybantsa, a better playmaker than Peterson, and a much better rebounder than both. There also might not be a stronger player in this draft class. Even if he’s just hoping to get to average defensively, he still has quick hands and sharp instincts to make some plays on that end. If nothing else, he’s great at ending defensive possessions with a rebound.
The 2026 NBA Draft class is stacked with talent inside the top-4, but Boozer stands alone. Taking anyone else with the top pick will be a regrettable decision.
